TRENTON, New Jersey — The Trenton Thunder scored six times in the final two innings, and beat the Portland Sea Dogs 7-0 in an Eastern League game Friday night at Arm & Hammer Park.
Portland has dropped the first two games of a seven-game road trip.
Trenton’s Taylor Garrison (1-0) earned his first win of the season for Trenton (5-3), tossing five innings and allowing six hits and one walk with two strikeouts. Kyle Haines earned a hold with two hitless frames and Caleb Cotham wrapped up the save, recording the final six outs.
Mike Augliera (0-2) put together a fine performance, but suffered his second loss in as many starts for the Sea Dogs (3-5). Augliera worked 6⅓ innings and surrendered six hits and three runs. He struck out five and did not walk a batter while posting Portland’s first quality start of the season.
Trenton grabbed an early lead off Augliera in the second inning. With one out, Eric Jagielo (2-for-3) doubled and scored on Dante Bichette Jr.’s (3-for-4, 3 RBI) single.
Portland had a great chance to tie the game in the fourth inning. Luis Martinez led off with a double and took third base on a wild pitch. Garrison worked out of the jam, which included Martinez cut-down at the plate.
The Sea Dogs had seven baserunners in five innings against Garrison, but went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.
Jagielo and Bichette Jr. would do damage in the later frames. Trenton scored six runs on eights in the final two innings. Jagielo knocked in two runs and Bichette Jr. put the game away with a two-run single off Kyle Martin in the eighth.
Cito Culver went 2-for-4 with an RBI single in the eighth off Robby Scott.
Portland had nine hits, receiving a 3-for-4 performance from first baseman Jantzen Witte.
The Sea Dogs and Thunder play game three of their series on Saturday night at Arm & Hammer Park. Mike McCarthy (0-1, 18.00) makes his second start for Portland.
Trenton counters with lefty Caleb Smith (0-1, 5.79).